Elements and Performance Criteria
- Select site and prepare for night dives.
- Select suitable night dive site according to previous daytime diving experience of self or other party members.
- Determine optimum conditions for night dive site and select appropriate time.
- Confirm activity safety and emergency response procedures to ensure compliance during activities.
- Confirm protocols for communications between divers, buddy and crew.
- Select and prepare night diving equipment.
- Select exposure suit and accessories suitable for night dive conditions, and check for safe working condition.
- Select personal diver lights according to need, complete safety and serviceability checks and attach back-ups to equipment.
- Select and secure diver marker lights to self to assist identification above and below water.
- Select and secure marker lights to boats, buoys and lines, as appropriate to type of dive, to assist exit from water.
- Utilise other lights appropriate for conditions and ensure security.
- Complete night dives.
- Enter and exit water utilising lighting equipment and lit reference points to orientate position.
- Maintain contact with buddy and use lit reference lines, as available, for descents and ascents to orientate position.
- Utilise personal diver lights to illuminate path of travel, and highlight points of interest.
- Maintain communication and close visual contact with buddy using lights.
- Ensure use of lights does not adversely affect buddy, other divers, support crew or marine animals.
- Use lighting equipment to safely approach and negotiate obstacles and hazards throughout all diving activities.
- Use compass navigation techniques to avoid disorientation.
- Utilise lights to identify underwater features to fix position and maintain direction and course.
- Respond to problems.